As Russell Kite waited for an x-ray in hospital, he gave way to an emergency admission.

Only later did he hear it was his brother, Greg, who had been rushed in by air ambulance close to death.

His parents, Sue and Peter told Russell, 17, the dreadful news when they arrived at the hospital with Greg's life hanging in the balance after he'd broken his neck in a judo competition.

The 18-year-old black belt champion of Stocks Lane, Kelvedon Hatch, suffered the near fatal injury during a bout at Epping Sports Centre, last October but has now made a miraculous recovery.

And last Friday Greg, and those who helped save his life, centre assistant manager, Gary Spicer, karate instructor, Andy Major, first aider, Bob Boultwood, along with air crew Steve Colmer, Chris Tunley and Barry Fogg, received special medals for bravery at the Epping Forest District Council Civic Awards ceremony.

Greg's injury happened shortly after Russell, also a judo expert, suffered a minor blow during the same competition and was waiting at the Princess Alexander Hospital, Harlow, for a check up.

A milkman at Dairy Crest, Hutton, Greg, who also delivers newpapers, said: "I felt this terrible pain and knew it was serious.

"I shall never be able to thank all the people who helped me enough. If they hadn't acted so quickly and sensibly I don't know what would have happened."

His mother, Sue, 41, along with her 42-year-old husband, works as a delivery area supervisor for the This Is Essex partner paper the Brentwood Gazette and its sister paper, the Ongar and North Weald Gazette.

She said: "Russell couldn't believe what was happening. He thought we'd come in to see him.

"When we told him about Greg and that he had come in by air ambulance Russell realised what had happened. He was very upset. Greg had two bolts put in his head to carry weights to hold his head straight before enduring a five hour touch and go operation.

"It was a terrible time for us all. We run our own club, the Sumo Tsu-Mo-Kie at Fane Hall, Kelvedon Hatch, and all our six children love the sport and have thousands of trophies between them.

"Greg could have died or been in a wheelchair for life but the surgeons have told us he could have suffered the same injury in a car crash or driving a car and he is determined not to give up the sport."

And his determination to recover was such that just 12 days after the accident, and much to the consternation of his surgeon, Greg was out of bed.

Proud mum, Sue, said: "Greg is used to being up and about. He was getting really restless and also said the noise from some of the water beds in the ward was driving him mad!

"Now he is making a good recovery and there is no holding him. His next check up is due this month and, though he is not back competing yet, he started training again in January."

Judo brothers: Russell Kite, left and his brother, Greg who received a special medal for bravery at last Friday's civic awards.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.